How many people do you buy Christmas for?

[spunkarella]

For DH's side, we buy nice gifts for 3 people, plus 2 $10 gifts for their big family swap.

My side of the family is 18 people, plus 5 kids that I mentor, plus I always want to buy for at least one additional child/needy family.

I feel like my side is out of control but I feel too guilty to make it stop. It has always been this way, and I actually used to buy for more people before we got married.

What's normal for you?

[Pom]

Niece E, Niece J, Great Niece...this is the bulk of our gift buying. They are like our kids.
Sister, my mom, stepdad, FIL, a few friends and each other.
The cats and dogs in the immediate family, because we are all nuts.

[shortstax]

22.

There's 3 in our immediate family, both sets of parents, 2 siblings on each side, grandmas, a handful of nieces and nephews, and my 2 BFFs. It adds up fast.

[L]

We buy gifts for six people: my parents, H's parents, my sister, and my grandfather.

ETA: And two dogs. Doggie L and my parents' dog get spoiled rotten.

[lillaguma]

We struggle with this, too. H is the youngest of 4 children, and we now have 5 nieces/nephews. For a few years in the past we tried doing the draw-a-name thing, but there was such an expectation along with it that you were getting that person a nice, big present that it was a lot of stress and pressure on H and I - H in in grad school now (one or both of us has been in school our whole marriage) and the rest of his siblings are a little more established financially. So it was hard for us because we'd end up feeling obligated to spend a lot of money on those gifts. In some ways I'd like to just do a little gift for each family, but buying for the nieces and nephews is the really fun part, so I'm debating on that for this year.

I have four brothers, but only one is married and has children (2.) My family approaches presents much differently though - we just do small things and there aren't any big expectations. It's easy for me to think of something I can make or a small thing to give. H's family is much more present focused for Christmas and it's difficult for me to adjust.

[mbcdefg]

Immediate family: my mom, his dad, and my two siblings (and a small gift for anyone they may be dating at the time). We usually spend at least $50-100 apiece.

Extended family is rough, so we try to spend no more than $25pp:

His maternal family: 9 adults and 9 kids. We always buy for each kid, and we try to get one gift per couple for the adults. Last year we did a Secret Santa with the adults and we only gave/received a total of two gifts, which I hope we can do again this year. They still all trade with each other since we're the only non-immediate family members in the group, but I'd rather receive nothing than receive a bunch of token gifts.

His paternal family: We don't always see them for the holidays. If we do, we just bring a hostess gift like wine or dessert.

We don't see my paternal family much in general, and definitely not around the holidays. My maternal family, whom we usually visit on the 26th, is my aunt and uncle (joint gift), two elderly adults who are considered part of the family (two individual gifts), and my three young adult cousins (three individual gifts).

Friends: We're close to two other couples and we've done a $25 Secret Santa for a couple years, but honestly I'd like to discontinue it since it was a PITA last year. One couple has two small kids so we buy something for them in the $25 range.

My BFF and I typically exchange gifts, too. Usually about $50.

And our two cats get treats and toys in their stockings, lol. Maybe $5-10 total. My mom also gets them treats.

[h]

I think about 40-45, depending on how you count.

24 family members (H, our 3 kids, 6 nieces and nephews, 5 parents/step-parents, 5 sibs/sibs in law, 1 aunt, 1 uncle, 2 cousins).

9 people who help us (teachers, nanny, speech therapist, housekeeper, hair dresser, my assistant)

4 friends (family gifts for them and their kids

Probably a couple of H's colleagues, but I need to ask him

2 bottles of booze for my family liquor exchange

Food gifts for about 5 others (neighbors, school receptionists, etc)

[cajunmom]

I've never really added it up before. Now's a good time to do so.
Each other (2)
Our 3 kids (3)
My mom and sisters, H's dad (5)
Nieces/nephew (3)
Daycare kids/friend's kids (13)
H's employees (4-5)

So around 30 people.

[mokes]

15ish? Each other, secret Santa for my family, his parents, grandma and brothers, three family friends' kids, two friends. I also usually do something at work (sometimes secret Santa, other times I've baked/given small items, if I have direct reports I'll get something for each of them).

A few years ago I suggested doing a secret Santa for my family. Everyone really likes it now, we each receive one nicer gift rather than a few smaller ones. Could you maybe suggest that for your family?

ETA: I forgot about pets! The pup gets spoiled. 

[jinkies]

In our family, we shop for 7 adults and 1 kid, plus our own 2 kids. We keep cutting out more and more people. I think this is as small as the list can realistically get.

We also get something for teachers (school, daycare, and Sunday School) and my 2 immediate coworkers.

Will probably send fudge or chocolate covered pretzels for the bus driver and a couple "swing" people at daycare.

[Deleted]

OMG. Some of these numbers! No wonder people hate the holidays!

My family is actually really practical about gifts. We stopped doing aunt/uncle/cousin gifts when I was a kid, and recently my sisters and I stopped exchanging. So now I buy for BF, nephew, a donation for my parents/grandparents, and that's it. So 4? That's if you count a donation as a gift (it is money spent, but no shopping involved). I really only have to shop for 2.

Bf and his family don't exchange gifts (they live in Europe and aren't close, so it's too much hassle) and I don't exhange with friends either. Bah humbug? lol.

[v]

Our parents (4)
Our siblings and their significant others (4)
Niece and nephew (2)
My husband's uncles (2)
My husband's mom's best friend (1)
My secretary (1)

So 14 people. Not bad at all! Particularly because we may do secret santa this year with my parents and sister/brother-in-law, which would cut the list by 5.

But we give holiday tips to 21 people (the 20 people on our building staff, and our housekeeper). That hurts.

[CrazyLucky]

DH's side: 3, maybe 4 this year since SIL has a serious boyfriend.
Me: Six little guys and two adults. The adults in my family do a secret Santa.
Others: We sponsor four people through angel trees, daycare teachers, housecleaner, hairdresser
Then of course there are our two kids and each other.

[Deleted]

4 people - Mom, dad, sister, BIL
3 dogs and a cat
SS on here
1 gift for family gift exchange $10 limit, must be a food item

9 gifts total

[tacom]

Last year 30--not fun at all. This year 8 (not counting gifts to each other). we cut way back. Still trying to get FI to suggest secret Santa with his sibs.

FI's parents (2)
FI's siblings (3)
My mom (1)
My college/hs age sibs (2)

We will also contribute to the holiday funds for the doormen and FI's support staff.

[ssmjlm]

Each other
E and Sadie has a stocking
My sister

GC's for E's 2 daycare teachers

I do a photo calendar for my parents, but that's it. We stopped doing adult gifts last year and it makes things so much easier. I still buy for my sister b/c she's young and I will splurge on something for her that she wouldn't buy herself.


ETA: I forgot we usually do $20 and a $10 iTunes gc for BIL's kids.  But that situation is so weird now, that I'm not sure which kids we'll see if any this holiday. 

[illgetthere]

3 sets of parent gifts
2 kids
2 of us
8 nieces/nephews

We quit exchanging between adults several years ago

I think I'm missing 2, but I can't think of who

[spunkarella]

@buckybells I like your approach! So much less stressful.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the crazy one. DH and my families sides are just so unbalanced. I think he gets a little annoyed and I can't really blame him.

[KaraOrNot]

Me and H.
Our kid.
My mom and brother.
2 people on H's side of the family (we exchange names).
H's aunt.
H's grandmas.
My assistant.
H's boss.
MM SS.

13

[hurricanedrunk]

Each other 2
My parents 2
Siblings on both sides 5
Nephew, godchild 3
Cousin exchange (we draw names) 2
Dogs 2
Work exchange other misc 2

So about 18 gifts.

[SJ]

Each other- 2
DD- 1
Parents- 4 (although we only exchange with IL's if we will see them)
Siblings- 3
Grandparents- 5
Elfster exchanges - 3

So 18? We also do some charity/angel tree/random stuff, but I am not counting that.

[krystee]

21, including siblings and their SOs, parents, godchildren, a GBCN exchange and the people we supervise. When we start getting nieces and nephews, we'll do a grab bag with the siblings.

[hopenotlost]

DH's side: His dad and step mom. We do a grab bag gift (2--so one from each of us) at his extended family's Christmas each year too.

My side: My mom, mom's FI, my dad. I have no siblings.

Then we buy for our three daughters. I told him this year I want to have us each take them to have them buy something for us (a gift from them to us, something small, but something they pick out...my two oldest seem to be getting into the fun of giving to others, so it would be cute to see what they come up with). DH and I usually give each other something too, or we buy ourselves a gift together (I'm pushing for a new stove, which is a gift for me, but hell, I make him goodies with it, so really it can be for him too lol).

I also usually make a bunch of goodies for people too, so I guess I count that too.

[Deleted]

My side: 2 immediate family (draw names), 1 gift swap (extended family), 4-5 kids (depending if I buy for my cousin's kid)
DH's side: 4 immediate family, 1 grandparents
Ourselves: 2 adults, 2 kids
MMM gift exchange
Sometimes something for charity (Operation Christmas Child or whatever)

So...17-ish total.

[dragonfly08]

We do kids only in my family, so 6 there.
I also do a little something for each of my parents.
In DHs family everyone gets a group gift, 6 people total, but I don't have to shop for any of these. MIL and SIL handle it, we just have to fork over our share of the cost.
I also have a neighborhood "secret pal", and we reveal our identities at the annual holiday party with a gift.

Add in 8 small gifts for each of my girls for Hanukkah, bringing my total to 31 (only 25 of which require any effort on my part). As far as Christmas gifts for my own kids go, that's DHs problem as the resident Christian.

[Marmee]

Parents (4)
Siblings &IL siblings (10)
Nieces/nephews (6)
Teachers/coaches/etc (12)
Neighbors/friends (4)

Plus Each other & 4 kids

42 plus or minus

[flygirl22]

DH and I (2)
Both sets of parents (4)
My family kid exchange (2)
DH family white elephant (2)
Nephews/Nieces (4)
Small Gifts for close friends (3)

So I guess about 17. Plus dogs. We also adopt a family around Christmas time, usually that adds about 4 people.

[spunkarella]

Here's our breakdown since others are posting theirs:

Parents: 3
Siblings: 2
BIL: 1
Nephew: 1
Mom's long-term SO: 1
Grandparents: 4
Aunts & uncles: 4
First cousins: 5
Mentees: 5

[redpenmama]

Small family on both sides--and we're the only ones with kids--means we don't buy much

H's side: FIL and SIL/BIL (usually a joint gift for the couple)
My side: My parents (joint), two brothers

We do a white elephant exchange on H's side, so we would each buy one generic gift to put into that. I make little gift baskets (with cookies or coffee, etc.) for H's two aunts because they are always generous with our kids.

So, 5 personalized gifts, 2 white elephant gifts, and 2 gift baskets/DIY.

[caligurl]

My parents, sister, brother, H, 2 nieces, 1 nephew, grandma, MIL, BFF and her daughter, cousin and her son, my god parents, and a household shared gift for another cousin and her family. So...18 family.

Then there are 6 or so work friends (small things like coffee gift cards).

I also feel like things are spinning out of control. H and I go way overboard with each other every year and I'm very generous with my mom and sister. We had some big expenses over the last 3 months or so and everyone knows so I'm thinking I can use that as a way to pull it in this year and keep it going for the future.